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Finally got a colonoscopy

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Posted 4/2/2022 10:41 PM (GMT 0)
It has been 13 years since my last colonoscopy, 10 years since prostatectomy, and 8 years since my radiotherapy (IMRT/IGRT). I also had an endoscopy back in 2017 since I was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus.

The good news, there is zero evidence of any radiation damage to the colon area and zero evidence of Barrett's.
Posted 4/2/2022 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Good results……shame on you for waiting so long. Absolute best screening we have that virtually eliminates the risk of colon cancer. What timeline did your GI put you on for the next one?
Posted 4/3/2022 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
Happy for you, brother!

Yup - - time for me to see "The Rear Admiral" and get scoped, too.

NJ Fred
Posted 4/3/2022 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
What Jack/JNF said.

But that’s great news, congratulations on a clean result.
Posted 4/3/2022 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm going in tomorrow for my first colonoscopy in 11 years. I am doing the fasting thing today with related prepping instructions. The procedure lasts about 30 minutes. The VA has pulled back on doing colonoscopies every 10 years as a routine checkup, but I finally convinced them I needed one due to chronic loose bowels concerns and they jobbed me out into community care.
Posted 4/3/2022 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
That’s surprising that VA is pulling back on 10 year colonoscopies. Colon cancer is the most preventable cancer there is, I think, and regular colonoscopies is the way to prevent it.

I get a colo every 2-3 years, since I was in my late 30’s. (Of course I do🙄). I have a tendency to grow polyps. The first one, at age 36, was pre cancerous. Dodged a bullet
Posted 4/3/2022 4:48 PM (GMT 0)

Had one about five years ago, and one last summer.

I felt the preparation medications had improved --- a better & easier protocol.

It "is what it is" --- but it's important to encourage each other to follow-up on procedures like these.

I was allowed to drink ginger ale, apple juice, yellow or green Jello-O, and such --- during my preparation at home.

A few polyps were found & excised --- the kind that can become worrisome, down the road --- so I am now on the "three-year plan" for next time.

It's better if you can book your appointment for early morning --- my doctor got "backed up" (yes, I see the pun!) with a troublesome case or two ahead of my procedure, and I sat there waiting in that pesky hospital gown for almost three hours.

It's good to "take care of business" --- and get 'r done, fellows!

Best to all ----
CYCLONE - # Iowa State University
Posted 4/3/2022 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I'm scheduled for upper GI endoscope on 4/28. I've had a hiatal hernia and reflux forever. Last upper endoscope 10 years ago, did a cologuard 3 years ago. Time for another one.
Posted 4/3/2022 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
Mine is scheduled for August on my 70th birthday. What a gift. Any bets on a new exam that goes up the “Nether Regions” in the future. Seems like every doc I see now wants to see what’s going on there. Isn’t getting old fun?
Prato, glad to see you have an exam scheduled for your heart when you get back. Stay positive,
Jack
Posted 4/5/2022 6:00 PM (GMT 0)
I was told I could have had my endoscopy at the same time as my colonoscopy. I was too worried they might forget to change scopes.
Posted 4/5/2022 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Good one, GoBucks. Double vision!
Posted 4/5/2022 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I told the doctor to make sure to perform the endoscopy before the colonoscopy.
Posted 4/6/2022 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
They actually just push the colonoscopy scope a little further to see the stomach and esophagus…. and bill for two procedures…win, win.
Posted 4/6/2022 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
I echo what JNF said. It's so important to have this done regularly. A friend recently went in for a regular screening colonoscopy (his first at age 52), and they found a couple malignant tumors. They scanned him immediately. It had already spread to his liver, lymph nodes, and lungs. So very sad.
Posted 4/6/2022 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Yes....it is very sad that VA is pulling back on colonoscopies for Veterans........it use to be one every 10 years like clockwork then it stopped. I went 11 years and then started having loose bowels issues and I telegramed my concerns/situation to my PCP.....good thing I did as the impression with my most recent colonoscopy was that I had Pancolitis ulcerative colitis and the extent of the inflammation was severe. I am now being sent meds from VA Pharmacy to help with the disease and inflamation. Bottomline, you have to fight these days to get the medical help you need at VAMC. I assume they are trying to save money and short of staff is why I got community care appointment. You have to fight and I am glad did because it was getting really bad with loose bowels for 3 months.
Posted 4/11/2022 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
My next colonoscopy is in a couple weeks. It will be first one since starting on this journey and while not overly worried, do wonder if the radiation treatments affected anything in that area. My RO said they try to avoid radiating anything beyond the prostate bed, but there is a slightly increased chance of developing secondary cancers regardless of their efforts. I will ask if I should be getting a colonoscopy more frequently than every ten years.
Posted 4/12/2022 4:12 PM (GMT 0)

lapilot said...
It has been 13 years since my last colonoscopy... I also had an endoscopy back in 2017 since I was diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus. The good news, there is zero evidence of any radiation damage to the colon area and zero evidence of Barrett's.

That certainly is good news! I've had Barrett's for fourteen years and get scoped every 2-3 years and must take pills in order to eat. So your BE just disappeared in five years? I would question that, unless you've made some drastic lifestyle changes in the interim.

Also I started colo's in my fifties. First couple found polyps (tubular adenoma, non-cancerous) and I've had the EGD and colo simultaneously a few times, always joking about re-using the same scope. Last colo was six months after ART and confirmed radiation colitis. Another six months later I required a bowel resection. The presence of a mesenteric mass explained a lot of problems I'd had with prior surgeries (RP & AUS).

My next EGD is next year (it comes around quickly!) My gastro usually does a "push" endo, snaking the scope thru the stomach and into the duodenum, taking biopsies along the way, as my father had gastroesophageal ca. Next colo will be in 2025. Since they've extended the time frame of each test I can't have them concomitantly any longer because there is no least common multiple between the two prime numbers. Okay, yes there is, it's 21. But I don't plan to still be around at 92.
Posted 4/12/2022 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
I was surprised too! I didn't think Barrett's would go away without medical intervention. My first EGD back in 2012 showed pre-Barrett's esophagus, and then followup EGD in 2017 showed Barrett's. Since 2017 I have been taking a PPI in the morning and a Famotidine (Pepcid) in the evening. I also stopped having any food a couple of hours before bed. The EGD the other week was perfectly clear and I even asked the GI doc for verification, to which he said "You do not have any evidence of Barrett's".
Posted 4/15/2022 3:29 PM (GMT 0)

lapilot said...
I was surprised too! I even asked the GI doc for verification, to which he said "You do not have any evidence of Barrett's".

Well that's just awesome! BE has been a major problem for me for many years, though I have taken lansoprazole (Prevacid) every morning and often take Famotadine at bedtime. Recently I've also been tested for gastroparesis and took Reglan for a while and now take domperidone before dinner. I'm curious... have you had to cut out rich or spicy foods, like ribs and such?
Posted 4/16/2022 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
RobLee,

No, I actually have not changed my diet. I can tell you I do eat low fat and usually stay away from fried food. I do limit food intake a couple of hours before going to bed, but then I usually have a couple of spoons of my favorite coffee-flavored ice cream before going to bed.

BTW, I used to have the head of the bed elevated a few inches as my previous GI doctor recommended. But since retiring several years ago and relocating to southern Alabama into our newly built house my bed stayed flat.

I do have an identical twin brother and he was diagnosed with Barrett's several years before I was, and had to have cryoablation to his lower esophagus.
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